Kevin Pietersen is ‘the most productive participant to have ever performed cricket for England’ in line with Ashes-winning Take a look at bowler Steve Harmison.

Pietersen, 37, introduced his retirement on the weekend after deciding no longer to participate within the Pakistan Tremendous League play-offs, finishing a profession wherein he scored 23 centuries in 104 Take a look at suits.

He walks away as England’s second-highest run scorer of all-time throughout all 3 codecs of the sport, regardless of being exiled from the nationwide set-up following the divisive 2013/14 Ashes whitewash.

Whilst his on-field brilliance was once transparent, Pietersen emerged as a divisive determine within the England dressing room, culminating in a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board in February 2014 that, at 33, he would not be thought to be for variety.

Harmison joined Darren Gough’s Cricket Week on talkSPORT 2 to react to information of his retirement, and mentioned he hopes Pietersen can be remembered by means of lovers for what he did at the pitch, relatively that the debate that peppered his profession.

“It was once a disgrace the best way issues ended for him within the England workforce,” mentioned the Ashes winner.

“For me, he’s the most productive participant to have ever performed cricket for England, undoubtedly in my lifetime.

“I do know that’s an enormous shout, however he was once a game-changer.

“I would really like the cricket fans within the nation to rejoice what he did for the sport, relatively than probably the most naughty stuff that’s been bandied about what he was once.

“What he was once, was once an incredible participant.

“Other people inquire from me ‘why was once he so excellent’ or ‘why do you talk smartly of him’?

“There was once no one healthier than Kevin, there was once no one more potent or mentally more potent than Kevin.

“When he practised, he practised with function. He was once so single-minded and pushed to practise precisely what he sought after to follow, to then move out directly to the sphere and ship.